There are two schools of thoughts when it comes to tilling, one is till before you sow, I think it is practiced by most home gardeners; the other is no-till at all.... the no-till method sounds good in theory, but I haven't seen it practiced much in home gardening. What's your thoughts? I should add that tilling here is a loosely defined term, it also include digging the garden up (or not) before planting.
To me, tilling signifies the gardening season is in full gear. Usually I'd have my veggie starts in the nurseries anxiously awaiting to go in the ground. The sight of freshly tilled garden sets my brain into high gear, planing, layout, irrigation etc. etc... I can't help but picturing what the garden will look like in just a short few month, and the dishes that will come out of all the veggies I will be harvesting! Granted I will have to deal with the weeds as the season progresses, there's no getting around of that... This is just the way things have been done in my garden year after year. I have a system worked out, and I am comfortable with it...
The no-till proponents suggest by not disturbing the soil, you are not activating the weed seeds in the ground, therefore, they do not germinate. A garden with no weeds? Who wouldn't want that?! And, by not tilling, you preserve the soil structure and keep the moisture and protect the soil from erosion, and you save water and fuel (by not running your rototiller) . I've read about the no-till methods from different sources, took a seminar on the subject, but I have not seen many in reality. The no-till method intrigues me, but right now I have more questions than answers, what about the nutrients? the disease control? etc. etc... It would help if I someone else can share their experience and PICTURES particularly...With all the great benefits of no-till, I would like to try it some day. I think I need a plan, but right now, I have no plan...
Either way you choose to do it, have a system and perfect it. And please share your experience on FB, we'd all want to know... (I hope I am speaking for the majority of us)
